On Thursday, Feb. 13, Team USA defeated Finland in a 6-1 victory in the 4 Nations Face-Off at Montreal’s Bell Centre. The tournament—featuring top National Hockey League players from the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Sweden—is a showcase of elite international hockey. It also serves as a preview for next year’s Winter Olympics in Northern Italy, giving fans an exciting sneak peek of what’s to come.
In the first period, Finland set the pace early against the U.S., with defenseman Henri Jokiharju putting the first point on the board. This lead was cut short when left winger Brady Tkachuk struck next, tying the game for the Americans with a quick goal. Finland struggled to match the U.S.’s intensity, spending much of the remaining period defending their own zone. Goaltender Juuse Saros was under heavy pressure, making several key saves to keep Finland in the game.
Finland controlled much of the second period, fending off Team USA’s shot attempts for the first nine minutes. Finland’s strong defence limited the U.S.’s offensive chances as the Americans looked to gain more puck possession. Despite Finland’s defensive skills, the U.S. began making more advances late in the period. Left winger Matt Boldy deflected a shot right past Saros, giving Team USA a 2-1 lead heading into the final period.
In the third period, Team USA closed down all competition with Finland in a quick turnover. Leading 2-1 at the start of the third period, the U.S. took advantage of a power play just 15 seconds in, as right wingman Matthew Tkachuk’s shot deflected off a defender’s stick and past the Finnish goalie. A mere 11 seconds later, left winger Jake Guentzel extended the lead to 4-1, finishing with a strong shot from the left circle.
At this point in the game, there was a noticeable shift in the crowd’s energy. There was an outpour of booing and nagging from fans, solely directed at Team USA thus far in the game. A surprising number of fans were cheering for Finland, despite being so far from home. However, spectators’ loyalties switched as the Americans began to stack up goals. “USA” chants slowly rippled through the crowd as people inevitably jumped on the winning team bandwagon.
At 3:00 into the third period, Brady Tkachuk scored his second goal of the game, just before his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, sealed the 6-1 victory with another power-play goal at 11:13. An unexpected four-goal outburst secured the win for Team USA, keeping them as a top contender in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The game had its share of scrappy moments and physicality, with players exchanging a few heated confrontations throughout the match. Both teams were aggressive, particularly in the second period, when tempers broke after some hard hits and close calls. A few minor scuffles broke out as players fought for possession in front of the net, but both teams kept their focus, and the game remained under control, with Team USA ultimately securing a significant victory.
Team USA’s 6-1 victory over Finland was a statement win in the 4 Nations Face-Off, solidifying the team’s elite hockey reputation. After a competitive first two periods, the U.S. pulled ahead in the third, proving their ability to dominate against such strong international competition. This victory put them in a strong spot moving forward, and inevitably helped them prepare for their matchup against Canada on Feb. 15, which they won 3-1. Meanwhile, Finland went on to restore their reputation after playing against Sweden on Feb. 15, winning 4-3 in overtime.
Moment of the Game: Matthew Tkachuk took a shot from the point and scored by deflecting the puck off a defenceman’s stick and 11 seconds later, Jake Guentzel scored with a snapshot, all within the first 26 seconds of the third period.
Stats Corner: Team USA took 32 total shots on net, while Finland took 21.
